Water sports board

ABSTRACT

A water sports board includes at least a main body panel, and two rail panels, one each removably connected either side of a rear portion of the main body panel, the two rail panels changeable to alter the shape or the board.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to water sports boards, and in particularthe invention relates to surfboards, but is also applicable to boogieboards, knee boards, wake boards and the like.

[0003] 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0004] Water sports are very popular. One particular type of water sportincludes transversing the surface of water on a board. One form of thissport involves being towed by a motorboat, for example knee boarding andwake boarding. Another form uses waves as a form of propulsion, forexample surfing. Yet a further examples of this type of water sport iswindsurfing and Kite boarding which use wind as a form of propulsion.

[0005] The handling and performance of the boards used in the abovesports is related to the board shape and materials patent materials. Aboard suitable for a more advanced rider is not necessarily suitable fora beginner thus as a new rider's skill and ability increases they willneed to regularly updated their board. Furthermore, a rider may desiredifferent board handling characteristics for different riding situationsand/or water/wave conditions. Thus they may need more than one board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a watersports board that is adaptable to different performance and/or handlingcharacteristics, or which at least provides the public with a usefulalternative.

[0007] According to a first aspect the invention provides a water sportsboard including a main body panel, and one or more other panelsremovably connected to said main body panel and changeable to alter theshape of the board.

[0008] Preferably, the board includes the main body panel, and at leasttwo rail panels one each removably connected either side of a rearportion of the main body panel.

[0009] Preferably, the board includes the main body panel, at least tworail panels one each removably connected either side of a rear portionof the main body panel, and a nose panel connected to a front portion ofthe main body panel.

[0010] According to a second aspect the invention provides a watersports board including a main body panel, and at least two rail panels,one each removably disposed either side of a rear portion of the mainbody panel, and wherein the rail panels are changeable to alter theshape of the board.

[0011] Preferably, the main body panel includes a main body portion andan elongate core portion disposed along the longitudinal centerline ofthe main body portion.

[0012] Preferably, a nose panel made of a soft material is disposed atthe front of the main body panel.

[0013] Preferably, one or more panels include a transparent portion.

[0014] Preferably, any panel, or portion of the panel, is made of a softmaterial.

[0015] Preferably, the board includes one or more removably connectedfins,

[0016] Preferably, the rail panels each include a fin. Preferably, therail panels are removably connected by loops, snaps, screws or glue.

[0017] Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description, which is given by way of example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a water sports boardaccording to the invention,

[0020]FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a water sports boardaccording to the invention,

[0021]FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of a core panel for the watersports board in FIG. 1,

[0022]FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the core panel,

[0023]FIG. 5 illustrates a main body panel, nose panel and rail panelsfor the water sports board,

[0024]FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the rail panels,

[0025]FIG. 7 illustrates a first shape rail panel, and

[0026]FIG. 8 illustrates a second shape rail panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The invention will now be described by way of the preferredembodiment, which is a surfboard. However, this is not to be consideredlimiting to the invention which may also be applied to other water sportboards such as knee boards, wake boards, boogie boards, windsurfingboards etc. The invention will also be described with reference to ashort board as shown in FIG. 1, however the invention is equallyapplicable to long boards as shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, a surfboard according to the inventionincludes a main body comprising an elongate core panel 1, a main bodypanel 2, a nose panel 5 disposed at the front of the main body panel 2,two rail panels 3, 4 disposed either side of the rear portion of theelongate core panel 1, and three fins 6. Included in the rear portion ofcore panel 1 is a foot portion 7, and included in the front portion ofcore panel 1 is a transparent panel 8. Transparent panel 8 allows anunderwater view while paddling out, and provides the board with alighter feeling.

[0029] The core panel 1 may be made of flexible materials, such asplastics and/or composites, to provide a flexible characteristic similarto that known in water and snow skis. This will enables the board to betuned for different performance characteristics.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6, the panels of the surfboard areshown individually. The individual panels of the board are made of foamcovered in composite plastic material. In alternative embodiments thefoam is covered in polyester, epoxy or other known materials.

[0031] The main body, that is the core panel 1 and main body panel 2,are mounted together into one unit in the manufacturing process. Thisallows the manufacture of a number of different boards by combiningdifferent core panels 1 and main body panels 2.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment the main body of the surfboard ismade as a single panel of foam covered in composite plastic material inknown manner. It may also be made in multiple portions for ease ofmanufacture.

[0033] Foot portion 7 of core panel 1 has wing portions 9 that extendbeyond the upper edge of the rear portion of core panel 1. The wingportions 9 of core panel 1 locate within recessed sections 10 of railportions 3, 4 when located together. The wing portions 9 transfer thepressure/weight of the rider into the rail panels 3, 4 during turns.

[0034] On the underside of core panel 1 and rail panels 3, 4 areelongate slots 11 for receiving fins 6. In the preferred embodimentthere are three f ins 6, one each on the rail panels 3, 4 and a centerfin on core panel 1. In alternative embodiments there are either one ortwo fins. In these alternative embodiments the fins are amounted to theboard in any one of the following ways: integrated with the rail panels3, 4, removably mounted to core panel 1, or removably mounted to therail panels 3, 4.

[0035] In a board according to the invention the rail panels 3, 4 arechangeable by the user/rider to alter the shape and performancecharacteristic of the board. This enables the board to be quickly andeasily adapted to different rider skill levels, or different ridingstyles, or different water/wave conditions. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8,the panels which change the performance more dramatically are the rails3, 4.

[0036] FIGS. 7 and B showed different rail panel designs respectively.In the preferred embodiment rail panels 3, 4 removably connect to therear portion of core panel 1. This allows for quickly changing thecharacteristic of the board. The removable connection is via loops 12that located within recesses 13 on the edges of core panel 1. Screws orplugs (not shown) extend from the lower surface through the loops 12 tohold the rails firmly in place. The screw or plug heads are recessedflush with the lower surface of the board. In alternative embodimentsthe rail panels 3, 4, are removably secured by snaps, screws, glue orother known means.

[0037] For performance boards the edges of the main body panel 2, nosepanel 5 and rail panels 3, 4 are hard. For beginner or inexperiencedriders panels or portions of panels, and fins, may be made of a softfoam material. The panels can be changed as the rider gains experience.

[0038] The modular construction of the surfboard, and in particular thecore panel 1, allows for precise control of the board shape in the sideview, what is normally called rocker curve. The other panels areintegrated or connected with the core panel 1, such as the rail panels3, 4 or transparent panel 8. The core panel 1 can also incorporateafter-market functional parts that are now common in the art. Suchafter-market functional parts include rubber grip mats for the backfoot. These can be integrated into foot portion 7. They can also carrygraphics and logos of the manufacturer in a more sophisticated way thanon current surfboards, for example by way of embossed or debossedgraphics.

[0039] It is envisaged that the invention may be embodied by rail panels3,4 attached to a plastic system that integrate with known surfboarddesigns as they are being manufactured or as an after-market part forexisting surfboards. As an after-market part the plastic systempermanently mounts to the existing surfboard and the rail panels areremovably connected to the plastic system for quickly altering the shapeand performance characteristics of the board. The plastic systemattaches in the same way known fin cassettes are glued or laminated intothe board or it is incorporated into mass-produced surfboards.

[0040] Thus according to the invention there is provided a water sportsboard that is adaptable to different performance and/or handlingcharacteristics.

[0041] Where in the foregoing description reference has been made tomethods or elements have known equivalents then such are included as ifindividually set forth herein.

[0042] Embodiments of the invention have been described, however it isunderstood that variations, improvement or modifications can take placewithout departure from the spirit of the invention or scope of theappended claims.

What is claim is:
 1. A water sports board including a main body panel,and one or more other panels removably connected to said main body paneland changeable to alter the shape of the board.
 2. A board as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the board includes the main body panel, and at least tworail panels one each removably connected either side of a rear portionof the main body panel.
 3. A board as claimed in claim 1 wherein theboard includes the main body panel, at least two rail panels one eachremovably connected either side of a rear portion of the main bodypanel, and a nose panel connected to a front portion of the main bodypanel.
 4. A water sports board including a main body panel, and at leasttwo rail panels, one each removably disposed either side of a rearportion of the main body panel, and wherein the rail panels arechangeable to alter the shape of the board.
 5. A water sports board asclaimed in claim 4 wherein the main body panel includes a main bodyportion and an elongate core portion disposed along the longitudinalcenterline of the main body portion.
 6. A water sports board as claimedin claim 4 wherein a nose panel made of a soft material is disposed atthe front of the main body panel.
 7. A water sports board as claimed inclaim 4 wherein one or more panels include a transparent portion.
 8. Awater sports board as claimed in claim 4 wherein any panel, or portionof the panel, is made of a soft material.
 9. A water sports board asclaimed in claim 4 including one or more removably connected fins.
 10. Awater sports board as claimed in claim 4 wherein the rail panels eachinclude a fin.
 11. A water sports board as claimed in claim 4 whereinthe rail panels are removably connected by loops, snaps, screws or glue.